Members and friends of Selkirk Cricket Club are advised that the annual dinner will take place on Saturday, November 3rd 2012. Proceedings start at 7.30pm. A three course dinner will be served and tickets have been held at last year’s price of £15. Members can sign up on the sheet at the bar in the club rooms or on the club’s Facebook page.

A healthy attendance would be appreciated, not least since the club has its promotion to Division 5 of the East of Scotland league to celebrate!

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Selkirk travelled to Peffermill in Edinburgh last Saturday knowing they only needed to take six points from their fixture against Old Contemptibles to secure the Division Six title. In the event, they took maximum points from a one-sided game in which the home batsmen proved utterly incapable of resisting the Souter’s bowling.

Winning the toss, John Everitt had no hesitation in asking Old Contemptibles to bat first. The skipper’s confidence in his bowlers was rewarded in just the first over when Greg Fenton bowled Watson for a duck. That set the tone and the standard for what was to follow.

Fenton, the leading wicket-taker in Division Six this season, and Jordan Reid bowled full and straight, working on the age-old adage of “you miss, I’ll hit”. Batsman after batsman trooped out to the wicket only to plod back to the boundary a few balls later. None proved capable of surviving for long.

The two 18 year-olds found conditions perfect for swing bowling and utilised the humid, overcast conditions to great effect. Fenton took his fifth wicket with the final delivery of his spell while Reid was unfortunate not to take five himself, having to settle for figures of 4 for 15.

That left Darren Fenton the happy task of mopping up the Old Contemptibles’ innings with the second delivery of his first over.

A total of 31 all out was never likely to test Selkirk’s mettle and though Lomax caused a moment or two of anxiety Greg Fenton and Everitt saw the Souters home in just 6.5 overs.

The season’s success has been built by the league’s best bowling attack. This was the fourth occasion on which Selkirk have dismissed the opposition for fewer than 35 runs. Division Five and tougher tasks await next season but this has been, by any standard, a fine and successful debut season in the East of Scotland set-up.

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Selkirk secured promotion to Division Five of the East of Scotland League thanks to a mighty 201 run victory over Marchmont 2nd XI at Philiphaugh on Saturday. Victory in their final two games will ensure the Souters are promoted as champions at the end of a successful first season in the new league set-up.

While Selkirk’s bowlers have often led the way this year, on Saturday it was the batsmen’s turn to shine. Skipper John Everitt was married last week – and so, shamefully, missed the defeat at Dunbar that is still the only blemish on Selkirks’ otherwise spotless record this season – but returned to flay the Marchmont bowling as he registered his second century of the season. By common consent his 115* was his best innings of the year.

Marchmont, it is true, were hampered by the late arrival of two of their players but, despite their best efforts, they struggled to make headway against some determined and skilful batting. Everitt and Greg Fenton took Selkirk past 50 and were largely untroubled until Fenton, on 29, slapped a drive to extra cover.

Andrew Rathie, however, proved a more than adequate replacement. Making his first appearance of the season, Rathie soon showed Selkirk’s stalwart supporters what they have been missing in his absence. After a slow start he began to punish the Marchmont bowling, being especially severe on anything short and on the leg-side.

At the other end, Everitt’s innings was a near-chanceless model of economy, concentration and good sense. Indeed, it seemed as though only a run-out could terminate his innings abruptly. For the rest of it, he batted with great authority in an innings that coupled aggressive running between the wickets with an astute balance between attack and defence. A number of trademark drives were highlights but the Yorkshireman’s most impressive quality was his control of pace and tempo as he batted for the full 45 overs.

After Rathie had been caught at point for 54, Massie arrived to offer Everitt some support as the home side cantered past 200 and set a total that looked to be on the stiff side of challenging.

This duly proved the case as Selkirk’s medium-pace attack made inroads. If Ramachandra was perhaps slightly unfortunate to be adjudged LBW, his colleagues were undone by some typically accurate Selkirk bowling. Granger, Marchmont’s leading run-scorer assisted Selkirk no end when he suffered the ignominy of being run out off a wide – a direct hit from Jordan Reid removing Marchmont’s greatest threat.

With Marchmont’s first five wickets falling with the score on 0, 1, 2, 10 and 13 respectively it was clear a Selkirk victory could not be long delayed. The visitors stuck doggedly to their task, however, guarding their wickets fiercely even if this came at the expense of offering any counter-attacking threat. Selkirk’s victory could not be long delayed, however, especially since Burgen was unfit to bat following an injury sustained while fielding. Malcolm Ford and Iain Gardiner duly mopped up the tail to secure the victory and promotion for the home side.

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This so-called summer may be among the wettest on record but, figuratively speaking, the sun continues to shine on Selkirk Cricket Club. On Saturday, the Souters preserved their unbeaten record in Division Six of the East of Scotland league thanks to an 83-run victory against Boroughmuir 2nd XI. That’s played seven, won seven.

Since the Souters travelled to Edinburgh without six first choice players, this victory has a decent claim to be considered the best of the season so far. Heavy rain had left the Meggetland outfield only barely playable and the match was played on an artificial wicket. Selkirk rose to the challenge, however, and produced a fine team performance in which every player contributed to the victory.

Asked to bat first, Selkirk got off to a brisk start before Smith was trapped LBW. At the other end, however, Darren Fenton was busy producing the best innings of his 1st XI career. He announced his intentions in fine style, clumping a six over mid-on. Thereafter, his innings featured a number of fine drives and even finer cuts through the covers.

Jordan Reid lived dangerously and only briefly before stand-in skipper Alex Massie was dismissed for a second-ball duck but Gordon Branston arrived to steady Selkirk nerves and ensure the Souters could post a challenging target. Though Fenton played around a yorker to be dismissed for 68, Brnaston was on hand to accelerate the scoring. Two mighty sixes over square leg were the highlight of a finely-paced innings.

The lower order, called upon to contribute for the first time this season, rallied in style. Chris Fairbairn clubbed a couple of boundaries before Blaine Gillie compiled a rapid 32 to take Selkirk past 200.

Conditions were never exactly pleasant and, resuming after tea, it looked as though rain might curtail proceedings. It was imperative, then, that Selkirk achieved an early breakthrough and that they rattle through their overs quickly.

Boroughmuir’s skipper had other ideas however, punishing anything short and wide as Selkirk struggled for the necessary breakthrough. Fenton, however, given the responsibility of opening the bowling for the first time this season, rose to the occasion. Bowling unchanged, his nine overs included the precious scalp of Docherty.

Iain Gardiner, another player who has had to exist on short rations this season, also performed splendidly and, given how often he found the edge, was perhaps unlucky not to take more than two wickets. Meanwhile Massie bamboozled Davidson with an outrageous lob that landed – fatally for the batsman and much to the bowlers’ surprise – perfectly on the base of leg stump. A reminder that it is the taking of wickets that counts, not how you take them.

Selkirk were assisted, it must be said, by some cavalier running between the wickets that produced two simple run outs, including the wicket of the dangerous Mohammed.

Finally, young Mitchell Branston capped a fine day in the field for the visitors by taking his first ever 1st XI wicket to seal victory.

All in all this was a grand performance in adverse circumstances and it was pleasing to see players take advantage of the opportunities afforded them by the absence of so many senior cricketers.

Boroughmuir 2nd XI vs Selkirk. Played at Meggetland on June 30th. Selkirk won by 83 runs.

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Selkirk continued their winning ways in Division Six of the East of Scotland league on Saturday to remain unbeaten at the top of the table. The 136 run final margin of their victory over Old Contemptibles was calculated by the league’s version of the Duckworth Lewis method for deciding rain affected matches but with the visitors 67/8 in reply to Selkirk’s 226/6 there was no doubting which side had the upper-hand.

The Souters supremacy was built upon a fine and perhaps overdue century from skipper John Everitt. Opening the innings, Everitt batted with admirable, methodical, patience to ensure the home side would post a challenging total. He hit only seven fours – the Philiphaugh outfield remaining on the slow side of pedestrian – and a brace of sixes, one of which clattered into the wall at the Ettrickhaugh Road end.

Since he arrived in Selkirk, Everitt has offered many glimpses of his ability. Too often, however his undoubted talent has been undermined by fatal lapses in concentration. As a consequence he has treated his team-mates (and spectators) to cameo performances when, with a little more luck and a touch more discipline, the Yorkshireman might have dominated opponents.

Perhaps a modest change of approach was needed. To put it in terms familiar to his native county, a little less Michael Vaughan and a little more Geoffrey Boycott would be no bad thing. Accordingly Selkirk’s skipper has suppressed some of his attacking instincts this season. This modified approach has paid off handsomely, producing scores of 17 not out, 52, 24 not out, 46 and then, on Saturday, this splendid 104.

Everitt’s discipline was needed too since, with Greg Fenton and Rory Banks falling cheaply, there was potential for the home side to be embarrassed by their visitors from Edinburgh. Michael Fenton helped steady the ship however and Kenny Paterson and Jordan Reid each also offered Everrit excellent support.

The visitors had actually won the toss and asked Selkirk to bat first on a wicket softened by heavy rain on Friday. They were confounded by Everitt’s commanding innings, however and only Mason was able to exert any real control.

After tea, Selkirk knew that the forecast was gloomy and that they needed to bowl a minimum of 20 overs to ensure a result could be calculated. By now conditions were helpful for swing-bowling; so much so in fact that Reid struggled to stop the ball swinging too much. Paterson, meanwhile, was producing a spell miserly even by his own parsimonious standards as he reeled off six consecutive maidens.

Making his season’s debut, Neil Gentleman took a smart catch in the slips to dismiss Watson before, in the 16th over, Michael Fenton struck to remove Charlwood. When Paterson produced a top class yorker to dismiss the classy and dangerous Joiner, Selkirk scented victory. Racing through the overs as conditions deteriorated, Greg Fenton struck three times and his brother Michael snagged another brace of victims as the Contemptibles innings collapsed.

The last four overs were played in appalling conditions as Selkirk strove for the final two wickets. Mason and Caldwell defended gallantly however and soon it became apparent that no more play would be possible. By then, however, Selkirk were far enough ahead to earn a convincing, if rain-affected victory.

Most of all, however, this was a day to remember for Everitt. His century was the first hit by a Selkirk 1st XI batsman in some years and his first since arriving in the Borders to work for the Forestry Commission. With luck – and this new approach – he may not have to wait so long before his next hundred.

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Selkirk travelled to Duddingston last Saturday knowing that Marchmont 2nd XI were likely to be the toughest opponents the Souters have yet faced in their debut season in the East of Scotland league. So it duly proved as Marchmont offered stubborn resistance in this top-of-the-table clash. This being so, Selkirk’s five wicket victory was arguably the most satisfying performance of the season.

Yet if Selkirk were worthy winners John Everitt’s side also rode their luck at times. Chasing 121 Greg Fenton and Everitt passed 50 for the opening wicket for the third consecutive game. Each, however, enjoyed some good fortune. Fenton was dropped twice en route to his 35 while Everitt was also granted a life as Marchmont spilled a regulation chance in the slip cordon. Had the home side taken those opportunities Selkirk might have been put under real pressure for the first time this season.

As it was, Everitt played a captain’s innings and though he fell just short of a half century he had by then ensured Selkirk’s victory. Rory Banks entered the fray and duly crashed a drive striaght down the ground to secure the win.

121 was, Marchmont assured your correspondent, about par for the conditions prevailing at Cavalry Park. On an overcast day and with a chill wind sweeping across the ground Everitt won the toss and chose to field, presuming that the conditions would favour Selkirk’s medium-pacers.

They did but only up to a point. Though Kenny Paterson and Jordan “Boyband” Reid extracted some movement from a green wicket the ball did less than might have been – indeed was – expected. It was Reid who struck first, toppling Ramachandra’s off-strump. Van Jaarsveld adopted a hit-or-miss strategy and though this brought him a six and a four over and through long-on it also secured his downfall when another heave went awry and Reid rooked him.

Granger and Ahmed proceeded to build a partnership of some substance. True, the scoring rate barely edged above two runs an over but they were beginning to frustrate the visitors. Though Granger was badly dropped in the covers the suspicion built that a run-out might be the most probable way Selkirk could break through their defences. One gilt-edged opportunity was missed but not the second as Ahmed endured the misfortune of being run-out by a mere 20 yards.

If Granger rejected responsibility for that fiasco he had no grounds for pleading not guilty when he ran Smith out too. A single to gully always seemed improbable…

With one end open, Selkirk began to look livelier in the field. If Paterson had bowled with characteristic ill-fortune Greg Fenton enjoyed his usual dollop of good luck. The Bannerfield teenager appears to have the priceless ability to conjure wickets from tripe. This week his wickets came from a full toss and a rank long-hop respectively; Penman and Massie taking simple catches to send the batsmen home cursing their inability to deal with the bad ball. Nevertheless, let it also be noted that Fenton’s nine overs cost just 5 runs.

Though Selkirk had previously been denied some useful LBW shouts, Banks – another bowler sometimes blessed by Dame Fortune – had Healy trapped LBW. The batsmen traipsed off ruing the fact that, in league cricket, hitting the ball does not always immunise you against your own umpire’s mistakes.

Reid returned to the attack and claimed two more wickets before Granger – who had batted with admirable determination – completed a trio of run outs off the last ball of the Marchmont innings.

A solid victory for the Souters, then and they top the table with five wins from five.